padding blanks on variable values

[learner_sas]

Hello All,

I have a character variable which has values of different length . I want to make all of them of same length. I used

if length(x_var) = 3 then x_new_var = x_var||"  ";

else if ....4 then ...;

I but the original length is not changing. I am wondering if any of you can help.

Ram

[Doc_Duke]

Ram,

I think that this is just a definition problem.  All character variables in SAS are fixed length.  The LENGTH function measures the number of characters, from the left, to the last non-blank character on the right.  Therefore, your x_var and x_new_var would both show as having the same LENGTH when you use that function.

Doc Muhlbaier

Duke

[learner_sas]

Thanks Doc@duke,

I need to padd blank when a variable value is not equal to length of  5. Do you think I can safely assume that length of variable is 5 if i define length of the variable in the beginning of the statement as 5 regardless of the length given by length function.

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

To speed up your learning of SAS, think about how you could test this for yourself.  For example, you could code:

data test;

length a $ 5;

a='ABC';

newvar = a || '*';

put newvar=;

run;

Good luck.

[Haikuo]

Many are very experienced and skilled in programming, But you are the best instructor on the forum!

Haikuo

[learner_sas]

Hello Astounding,

I used your dataset but my problem still persists.

14         GOPTIONS ACCESSIBLE;

15         data test;

16         length a $ 5;

17         a='ABC';

18         newvar = a || '*';

19         newvar1 = a||' ';

20         put newvar:'end';

21         put a :'end';

22         put newvar1:'end' ;

23         run;

ABC  * end

ABC end

ABC end

when I did put statement why  both of the ABC's(a and newvar1) has same length considering i added a blank on newvar1. Is there any way to achieve right padding on newvar1 with one more blank.I re run the process by removing length statement still I had same output.

Thanks,

Ram Rimal

[Astounding]

Ram,

You did actually add a blank.  You could see this by trying:

newvar2 = newvar1 || '*';

put newvar;

put newvar2;

The problem is that the PUT statement doesn't write out all the blanks.  By default, it writes all the nonblank characters, and then leaves a single blank following.

What is your final objective here?  If you would like to write a report that contains blanks, it's easy:

put @1 a  @7 'end';

When all is said and done, what would you like to achieve?